I'm here!

How is it already July? Seriously? No, really? School starts back up in about 2 weeks. I cannot believe it. I had a list of things that I was going to do this summer. I haven't even started it yet! Yikes. But, lets not talk about it anymore. I don't want to feel unproductive.
I decided to sign up for this math project. I don't know who but someone is giving me lots of money to do this. The only downfall is that next week I have to give up my whole week to learn about math. And during the school year once a month I have to give up an entire Saturday and one day a month 4 hours after school.
Monday should be very interesting. My sleep schedule is backwards. I went to Vegas at the beg. of July and ever since then my sleep has been very abnormal. My normal hours right now are 730am-300pm. Yes, while most of the world is out at work I am in bed snoozing away. Then I stay up all night. It's very crazy. But, one nice thing is going outside at 6 to do yard stuff. Monday morning I need to leave the house at 730 am. Again Monday is going to be a very interesting day.
I have some new things that I'm implementing into my life. One of them I have to re-start.
1. I am doing an organization program to get things in order. Right now it's just a transition so I have different things to do each day.
2. Not spending any money unless it's something I need, not want.

Guess which one is harder?

I made it

Today was the last day of school. The rowdy boys wore me out but I made it. I had 6 sweet and lovely girls and 15 boys ( 9 who were handfuls and they fed of each other). My class this year has been a lot of fun and very entertaining. It will be nice to see my students next year (I'm looking forward to it) and it will be even better knowing they now belong to another teacher.

Next years 1st grade class is small and they are so friendly, calm, and sweet (they wave and try to hug us). I cannot wait!


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I Can Do It!

I love 1st graders! Mostly because the kids crack me up.

I was putting together my students writing folders. I came across one of the district writing samples that we have.

Their promt was to write about going to the park.


One of my boys wrote.

My mom can do it.
My grandma can do it.
My dad can do it.
He can do it.

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2-weeks Ago

Was the week of weird things being said to me.

I was talking to some teachers at work after our school carnival. One asked me if I was a lesbian after I said I wasn't really interested in dating men.

And a guy on a dating site wrote me and told me I was getting kinda of old to have kids. That I'm more at risk for having a kid with downs.

I'd like to think that there is a guy out there for me, you know one that wants to be with a lesbian that's going to have a downs baby! ;-)


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Keeping The Sun Out

When I got home from work on Friday. I came out to the back yard to water the flowers. And I got the urge to wash all the screens and sunscreens. Although my house is small I've got 12 windows. It took awhile to get them washed, dried, popped, or clipped into place. I didn't start out planning on doing the whole house. All the screens and shades where in the garage leaded against the wall and I didn't really know what was out.

One of the biggest windows is my bedroom window. So I found the big sunshades and pulled them out. I washed them. Then I took one to the window and it was way too big. I was very confused by this. After all this is my biggest window. That night I learned that they make shades for patio doors. They had to be screwed in and well I wasn't sure how they work so I put then aside and went to find smaller ones for the bedroom.

I figured out the bedroom windows. And from there I was able to narrow down what went there. I just kept narrowing down sizes and what went where until they were all up. Now I know that I have 6 different sized windows. A few days ago I would have said 3.
I got them all up. I didn't get then ad clean as I wanted. But my mom said they are very hard to clean.
Saturday I woke up and figured out how the sunscreens go on the sliding doors.
I am very proud of myself for doing this. Which may seem silly to most people. I just don't do stuff like this. I call my mom or dad (depending on what it is) and they do it for me. Parents always do things better! I need to grow up at some point and learn to do things on my own. It was hard work but since I got them all up correctly it feels good to have done it on my own. Mom was pretty surprised and I'd like to think she was proud of me for doing it on my own.


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Not again!

Over the weekend I went and got a pedicure with a friend. And I forgot to close the bedroom door. Someone went to town on the blinds in the office area on the door that leads to the backyard. He left about half of them up.

Now both doors have no blinds or half. I will replace the blinds in my office area, since the dogs usually don't have access to that room when I'm not home (as long as I remember to close the door when I leave). In the living room I think I'm going to have to put up curtains. Def. not something I ever thought about. But, obviously we can no longer handle having blinds up. Until I decide what to do and find something that I like I have hung up a sheet.

I only have two sheets that I can use for the doors (unless I have some in one of the many unpacked boxes). I had one of the sheets in my bedroom area on the window to block some of the light, even with the blinds that came with the house a lot of light came in. I had to take that one so I had a little more privacy incase someone was peeking over the fence (yah I'm slightly paranoid about weird stuff).

I was able to take a fitted sheet and hook it to the top of the window and the bottom window sill. Makes me laugh when I walk in. Like a bed on the wall. It works until I get blinds for that room. I don't even know if you do curtains and blinds together.



(excuse the black and white dog butt).

And instead of improving the house to make it better we are regressing. Winning!


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Ideas

I pretty much have a job for next year. Nice that I don't need to figure out something else. It will be my 3rd year and still no raise. I no money isn't everything, but it's a little important.

I have started thinking in my head a plan to make more money without having to go back to school and start back over. Other states pay teachers 10k more on average. So I am thinking of moving. We're talking an extra 800 a month. Why should I not try for that. And I am single!

Here is my plan:

If I am at my school for 4 years or more if you give your notice early enough they will pay you for all the sick days you haven't used (currently I have 16 days of sick time).

If you have the state retirement for 5 years on top of what you put in you will get 25% of what the school contributed (and they currently contribute 100% of the 9% we put in).
* 6 years you get 40%
* 7 years you get 55%

I would keep this house. I bought it planning to hang on to it. And for how cheap it was will make it a lot easier.

What I don't know is if I will rent it or keep it and stay in it when I come back during the summers. If I want any extra spending money I think my only option would be renting. But it would be cool to have a home to stay in when coming back to AZ.

My friend is moving to another state, she is hoping this summer. So, this has got the wheels turning in my head.

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So mad!

The worst part of coming home tonight should have been the poop on the floor. (1st time it's happened since I moved).

This morning I didn't close the blinds all the way. Huge mistake!!!!

And this is why I'm now a little on the grumpy side.




Notice there are only a few blinds. Here is where most of them are.


















I don't know if I have ever been mad at the dogs. But I am right now!

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Here's my goal

And I don't want to think about how long it's going to take to get into these. But these old jeans are my goal. I don't care that they are about 5-7 years old. Its my new goal (hopefully it doesn't take 5+ years to achieve!).












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It's started

I started a real diet. Def. not something that I plan out and try. So far I'm down 10lbs. The first two days were hard. But, now I'm pretty use to it. What makes it easy is that I am hardl ever hungry. So that "need" to snack all the time is gone. Another great thing is as lunch time I would just eat what I had. Now half the time I'm not in the mood for part of it or only want a few bites of whatever. And then I'm done. That's a lot of saved calories. I need to start throwing in exercise.

I don't have a goal yet. I need one. I could:
Make a lot of short terms goals.
Make a long term goal
Have a time frame.
There are a pair of pants I want to get into. I should find them and take a picture to remind myself.

I'm excited about these 10 lbs. and look foward to more sucess.


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I need to finish unpaking

You would not know this unless you looked in the spare bedrooms. I have oodless and oodless of things that need to be unpacked. One room is filled with all sorts of stuff. The other room has boxes of bathroom stuff - makeup, hair, and bath stuff. Then there boxes of stuff that goes in my dresser drawers. Although since the stuff is still in the spare room it's telling me that - I don't use it.

There are somethings I need to find asap. I moved and packed in the winer time. So I don't know where any capris are or my warmer weather shirts. And I have no idea where my socks are. I do have a pair of mismatched socks that I have used with sneakers. Kinda silly that all my socks are in some unknown spot.

In the messy spare room I have an older dresser. It use to be my grandparents. I love the shape and size. Don't care for the wood color. What I want to do this summer is to sand it down and paint it black. I don't know how hard that will be. I've read some blogs of people who have done this and have beautiful after pictures. It doesn't seem too hard. Maybe I should practice on my desk. It's cheap and old. Plus maybe that will help urge my need to buy the desk set that I love that's always in the PotteryBarn mag. That magazine is Dangerous!!!!


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Shopping

I like to order clothes online. And of course it comes with risks. I was shopping tonight at Old Navy and Piperlime. I think it's great that other people who have got the same item give their opinion and comment on their purchase. I love the people who put their height and size. I really wish people had to put their age and their fashion sense.

So many times I read, "such a pretty print.".

But that tells me nothing. If the person is 60 we probably are not going to have the same opinion. -or- a 30 year old who could careless about what they wear as long as it's comfortable.

I need more details people!

A side thought: you can shop Piperlime, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Gap from the same sight.

Now that I'm older I don't ever end up buying from Gap. I'm my early 20's I was obsessed. I serriously bought a new shirt or two from them every payday. 10 years later I've decided that --- there are only so many ways to do a solid color shirt. I'm kinda over it. ;-)

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The ordeal is over

I still can't believe I had to get stitches. I never planned on ever having to get them. And I know this because I've thought about it before. When you have a phobia of needles and pain you tend to think about these sorts of things. Or at least I do. Just like I was never going to have my wisdom teeth removed. But when I was a young adult those came out too.

We just had a fire drill at the end of the day. My kids were getting ready to be on the floor. I went to my rocking chair sat down and instantly got up. Because I saw the scissors that were in my pocket were now sticking out and I could feel blood droplets in my hand. I have one pair of small sharp scissors. I rarley use them. They are usually far in my desk with the guard on them. I will never put scissors in my pockets again!

I have felt blood sliding down my skin before but have never felt drops of it. Was the weirdest feeling ever. I went over to the sink and could not get my finger to stop bleeding. I sent my kids next door. Most didn't notice what had happened. I went up to the office to get some gauze.

A few people told me I needed stitches. I told them I wasn't getting them but with several people telling me I started to get nervous. I went to find my phone and the thought of having to get stitches gave me instant tears. I called my mom and she told me she would meet me at my house to bandage it up or take me to urgent care. She hardly even looked at it. I was so nervous at urgent care. I was pretty proud of myself. I didn't cry. The needles hurt and getting your skin stitched together feels so crazy. You can feel your skin being tugged and pulled but it doesn't hurt.

It was a big event for me. And I am glad it's over. I did pretty good (phobia wise). But I never want to go through that again.

No more stitches. There goes my future in hand modeling!

What did I do to myself?

This will be short, since this is all being typed by my left thumb. On Tuesday I sliced my right thumb. I'll blog about it later on.

WARNING: pictures of my stitches are below.




My ugly thumb with 5 stitches! Still a little swollen.




This is as far as I can bend my thumb. I can only really bend the top part of my thumb.




See how much my left thumb can bend at the base. Yah can't do that with the right.


This has really slowed me down! I can't believe how slow some things take me or how hard some things are to do now.

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My new friend

Smells great! Can't wait to get it planted.




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Every woMANS dream!

I finally got around to getting hooks for my man area to hang up my entire 5 tools.

Before



After



My dad will be so proud!

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Enough said

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I love my job

I really do love my job. It takes up a lot of my time but I love going to work. I am going to stress how much I do like being a teacher. Because the rest of my blog isn't going to seem like it. I really do love it.

Here is what I don't like about being a teacher. I am just finishing up my 2nd year. And this is the 2nd time I don't know if I will have a job next year. With the state making even more cuts to education. I don't know if they can afford to keep me on staff. And if I am one of the lucky ones that gets to stay I will either get paid less or if I am lucky I'll make the same amount. And to tell you the truth that really sucks. I've never had a job where each time it's time for a raise I hope to make the same amount of money. I've never had a job where you did not get at least an annual raise.

I know money is not everything. But my base salary is almost 5k less than what it was at my old job. And how long will it before I actually get a raise. I don't think I can do this for 5 years and never go up on the scale. I make extra money by working 2 hours after school, I went to a conference 3 days of my spring break just to make an extra $600. I'll spend 3 weeks of summer break to earn extra money.

Before I became a teacher I had a life. I went out and had fun. I went on a lot of fun trips. Now that I am a teacher I have no life. Teaching is pretty much all I do and it consumes my life. I work an average of 7:15-5:30 (when I do after school). I usually go in once on the weekend just to try to "catch up".

Having a job that is so rewarding intrinsically. Well is it worth it? I've always been obsessed with money.

And lately I've been wondering if I should choose a different career. I've been toying with the idea of going back to school and getting some prereqs out of the way in science and in math. And if I am able to do well in those areas look into pursuing a degree in Pharmacy. It would probably take me until I'm 40 to finish. Okay maybe it won't take me 8 years but it would be awhile.

I am thinking I might sign up to take one of the prereq courses this summer. And going from there.

I do love teaching. I just don't want to be dirt poor the rest of my life or have to work 10-12 hour days just to make ends meet. :-(

This topic has been on my mind a lot lately. After writing about it I feel sad...

Paint Colors

Those two little words stress me out. My goal today was to go and get a brown paint and to have one brown wall. That did not happen.

My furniture is black and my colors are brown with a light greenish/blue color.

Kitchen: either want to do a light all over Carmel color -or- one light greenish/blue wall and the rest the Carmel color -or- all over greenish/blue color.

Living room: dark brown on the wall by the kitchen. Part of that wall has a huge cut out so you can see into the kitchen. I want the rest of the walls the carmel color. There are two popouts (I don't know whatelse to call them) that are like an entry way arch down each hallway. I think iwant those popouts to be the same brown color or the blueish green color.

Hallways: both the camelish color.

Guest bathroom: light turquoise blue.

Laundry room: light yellow color.

Guest bedrooms: I am thinking of just finding colors that I love and match the rooms to the colors (this will be something way down the road).

Master bedroom: I really want to do a light gray color. I just don't think it will go with the rest of the house. I got a painting book and I loved a room that they had with light purple and white. It looked great against black furniture. I worry that i'll get sick of purple.

Master bedroom sitting room: I've kinda turned it into the office. I could do a fun color. It's kind of a darker room. It doesn't have a window it does have a sliding door but I have it all locked up so I don't ever have to worry about forgetting to lock it. I also keep the blinds closed so that room is always dark. A bright fun color that goes with the bedroom and bathroom color might be fun.

It will take me a long time to get this house painted. Even though it's small. The vaulted celings and all the little nitches and corners will be challenging for me.

I figure I'll do the house in parts. And I thought picking out a brown paint would be simple.





This is the brown color I liked earlier. I liked the 3rd lightest color for the carmelish color. And the 2nd darkest color for the brown. However when I looked at the colors compared to my chair cushions I didn't like them together. I am thinking I need to find more of a deeper darker brown to go with my color theme.

Hopefully tomorrow I'll feel more paint adventurous.

Bling-bling

I am so excited about my new ring. It's a little bigger than I expected (since I bought it online). Can't wait to wear it on a hot date. Of course I'll probably be admiring it more then he will. ;-)



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Spring Break, already?

I cannot believe that it's already spring break. Yesterday I woke up with the urge to get the garage unpacked and organized. And if I don't get it done before the summer heat starts creeping around it won't get done.

I've made a lot of progress.







When I first moved in there was barely enough room to pull the car in and open the car. Now there is lots of room.

It looks so much better bt I Can't wait until the garage is done!

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I don't do diets

They're just not for me. In life i don't like restrictions or not being able to do something. And in the case of a diet not be able to eat something.

Recently I gave up drinking sugar free energy drinks. It was a staple of my morning rountine. It was how I functioned. It was how I was able to smile and be civil early in the mornings. In other words it was a bad habit, my drug of choice. I didn't always drink energy drinks. And really when it comes down to it how can something that color be good for your body. Regarless of how many vitamins they cram onto the cans label.
And what I have learned since I stopped drinking them is I can function and be a nice person in the mornings without them. Good ridence!

This past week an Atkins commercial came on. For some reason I decided to check it out. Now I've always thought adkins was ridiculous and the reasons for that was an old coworker would do the diet. They would eat things like mounds or whipcream and dozens of slices of peporoni. They never ate vegtables or fruit. So this caused me to think the diet was absurded.
Well, when I looked up the information on Atkins I soon realized that the person I use to work with made their own varation of it and not really what the program promotes.
I'm going to try the program. I need to do a little more research to start the induction stage. I'm pretty excited to begin.


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A Change In The Yard

Saturday I woke up early and went to HomeDepot. It was time to dig up the huge weed in the backyard that I've been watering. I found this cute guy.




A Roryal Robe Potatoe Bush. Apparently it can be trained to a tree form. I don't think the dog liked having this in the front seat with him.






It was horrible getting the weed out but I finally got it. The bush looks so small here.

I also bought these pretty things.






And now if I can just get the
to stay this way I'll be a happy girl.








I'm slowly working on turning the patio into an inviting place but right now it's a dog napping area.

I would like to replace some plants in the backyard. I would still like low water plants but want some flowers and a little cohesiveness. Next week is spring break and I can't decide if I should spend the last couple days painting or working on the yard.

And here is a picture I snapped a few weekends ago of Deuce. He likes to drag his big stuffed toys outside. It gets old when he tries to take all 4 of them out each weekend. Apparently one needed it's own bed.






And l can't leave the other dog out since he now lives with me fulltime. I got this pic the same weekend. Probably right after I brought in some of the big toys. Looks pretty comfy (he's the black in the pile).







I like when I'm able to capture these moments.

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Tree is down

The tree came down last weekend. I can now keep my front shutters open! I don't think ill be getting a tree next year. Maybe a tiny one would be doable.

And in it's place is a treadmill that my grandma gave me. I had been thinking about buying one so I was so excited when she offered to give me her treadmill.
The family brought it over this weekend. I've tried the treadmill twice now. It works for a whole thirty seconds and then the belt slows way down and then stops...
I don't think I have the heart to tell grandma she gave me a broken treadmill.


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Where are all the days going?

I've really been neglecting my blog. It's already March and I have not blogged once this year.

So I think I might have met a guy. I'm really excited. It's been awhile since I've been excited by any guys. I don't want to say too much because it's still so early. But, hopefully there will be future updates. :-)

One of my boys broke my heart today. His mom died when he was younger. He will talk to me about his mom, things she would buy, do, say, one time we were on a field trip he saw an angel and told me that was what his mom looked like. Today he finished his center and told me he wrote about his mom (something he decided to write about himself). He was his normal self after center. Fast foward mins and my class was outside lined up for lunch. I had to go back in the room to see why he wasn't out there. He was in the corner balling his eyes out. When I asked him what was wrong he said, "I miss my mom". It was hard to hold back the tears. I told him to give me a big hug and asked him if he wanted to hold my hand to lunch. We held hands and walked to lunch talking about his mom and how it's okay to feel sad.

No child should lose a parent and no parent should lose a child.

Paw Heat

I've heard you should not let your dogs sleep in bed. What the heck it sure beats sleeping alone. And the best part is in the winter when my great dane sleeps with his paws against my back - they radiate heat and I've got my own little heat pad...

Things are busy at school. I started tutoring ELL kids for 2 hours after school. I need the extra money buying a house made me broke.

I still seem to be celebrating Christmas. I need to get the tree down before all the needles fall on the floor (best part about getting a live tree is that they don't dry out as fast). I've been keeping my front shutters closed so the neighbors don't see my Christmas spirt. Kinda of pathetic. I guess it could be worse, it could be March. Here's to getting it down before March.